Bill focuses on impacts of free clinics

COLUMBIA -- Lawmakers want to get more retired medical professionals to volunteer in free clinics.

That's one aspect of a bill introduced by Rep. Joseph Jefferson, D-Pineville, which would study the scope of care the safety-net facilities provide to low-income patients. The bill, H. 4009, cleared a House subcommittee Wednesday.

Jefferson said he was concerned to learn that of at least two free clinics in Berkeley County, volunteers favored one site over another.

South Carolina is among the states whose governor has chosen to reject the expansion of Medicaid under President Obama's Affordable Care Act.

Jefferson said South Carolina has about 350,000 uninsured people, and at least 10,000 live in Berkeley County.

“We just want to make sure none of those people are overlooked or neglected,” said the lawmaker.

“If we can make this awareness more prevalent, particularly among retired medical doctors and nurses and other medical professionals, then that would be worthwhile.”

Amanda Berrier, executive director, of the S.C. Free Clinic Association, said the state’s 46 free clinics are spread across 52 sites and operate as private non-profits.

The clinics are not regulated by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control oversight but adhere to federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations and are covered by liability insurance.

“When volunteers do have a loyalty to one clinic over another, it’s sort of a personal choice based on relationships built,” she said.

“A lot of churches and other organizations are the backbone of the free clinic in the community, and I think their affiliations with those organizations often play a role.”

Jefferson's legislation would create the Free Health Care Study Committee, which would examine the types of services clinics provide, the needs of the populations served, and ways to coax the members of the medical community to give more of their time.

Local facilities include the Bluffton Jasper County Volunteers In Medicine.

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